Kevin Maurer reports at the Wilmington Star-News:
New Hanover County Commissioner Brian Berger was getting unemployment benefits for at least five months from Washington, D.C., according to documents obtained by the StarNews.
Officials at Washington's Office of Unemployment Compensation sent a “wage audit notice” to New Hanover County in January asking the county to provide Berger's salary information after he was elected in November and sworn in Dec. 6.
The notice is used by the Benefit Payment Control Branch to make sure “payments are proper” and is part of the agency's fraud detection program, according to the letter. The agency confirmed that Berger's benefits stopped May 21, but would not release how much he was collecting. A New Hanover County commissioner earns about $17,000 a year, and it is not considered a full-time job. Having a part-time job does not stop the benefits, officials said, but only adjusts the benefit amount from the agency.
Berger said Thursday after a commission agenda review meeting that he worked inhouse for a trade association doing nonprofit management. He declined to name the group or when he worked there. He said the group cut staff and he lost his position.
Erna Vance, a customer service specialist at the Office of Unemployment Compensation, would not verify how much or how long Berger received the benefits. She said it is not uncommon for people to live outside Washington and get benefits because they worked in Washington. ...>more
